US freezes $130 million in crypto tied to Iran, Treasury says

WASHINGTON, United States — WASHINGTON — The U.S. Treasury Department has frozen more than $130 million in cryptocurrency linked to Iran, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced on the social media platform X. Bessent said the administration would continue to prevent Iran from accessing proceeds from what he described as illicit revenue schemes. The Treasury said it would work to counter Iran's misuse of digital assets and limit their spread. The department also imposed sanctions on several crypto wallets allegedly tied to the Central Bank of Iran and on more than 50 entities and individuals linked to networks that Iran allegedly uses to evade U.S. sanctions. The action comes after the collapse of a U.S.-Iran understanding that had been intended to end the conflict between the two countries. Following the breakdown, Washington launched a new wave of airstrikes on Tehran as part of expanded military operations. No further details on the military operations were immediately available.